In about 395 AD, he made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

This shows that Christianity has risen.

What do we call the period of peace and prosperity from the time of Caesar Augustus to the death of Marcus Aurelius?

The Pax Romana (Roman Peace). Two centuries of peace, extensive trade and stability. After this period the Roman Empire declines.

Pax means Peace in Latin.

What social and economic problems grew after the Pax Romana/death of Marcus Aurelius?

Taxes are too high so the middle classes begin to disappear.

Emperors begin to come to power by assassination and violence.

In 284 AD, how did Emperor Diocletian simplify the problems of ruling the Roman Empire?

He split the empire in two - he gave the Latin speaking Western European part to a co-emperor and kept the wealthy and safer Greek speaking Eastern half for himself.

He still stayed autocratic by giving this person less power.

Where did Emperor Constantine set his new capital of the Roman Empire?

Byzantium (he re-named it Constantinople).

It is known as Istanbul, Turkey, today. He named this city after himself.

What invaders tore apart the Roman Empire?

Germanic tribes such as Vandals, Ostrogoths and Visegoths, Lombardis, and the Huns.

You can name the general language groups of these tribes or specific names.

Who is the famous barbarian who Christians called the "Scourge of God" because they felt he was a punishment for mankind's sins?

Attila the Hun.

We're near the end of the Roman Empire.

What were two military reasons for the decline and collapse of the Roman Empire?

(1) Germanic invasions pushed back the borders of the Roman Empire in Western Europe.
(2) The Roman soldiers were no loyal patriotic and loyal - often they were hired soldiers of fortune (mercenaries).

What were some social reasons for the decline and collapse of the Roman Empire?

(1) the rich, upper classes of Rome lived in luxury, spent lavishly on themselves, while ignoring the growing problems.
(2) the middle classes and landowning farmers disappeared, unable to pay high taxes. (3) Poor unemployed mobs wandered the streets of Rome, given "bread and circuses" to forget their problems.

Think about each social class and what happened to them.

What were the political and economic reasons for the decline of Rome?

(1) The rulers and government officials had become corrupt and oppresive.
(2) Assassinations destabilized the govt.
(3) Taxes were too high and landowners left their land to work for rich landowners (beginnings of serfdom).
(4) Slave labor replaced paid labor.

What part of the Roman Empire survived after the sack of Rome in 476 AD?

{"cdnAssetsUrl":"\/\/fce-study.netdna-ssl.com\/efbaa37715b7","site_dot_caption":"Cram.com","premium_user":false,"premium_set":false,"payreferer":"clone_set","payreferer_set_title":"09Rise of Christianity Fall of Rome","payreferer_url":"\/flashcards\/copy\/09rise-of-christianity-fall-of-rome-232955","isGuest":true,"ga_id":"UA-272909-1","facebook":{"clientId":"363499237066029","version":"v2.2","language":"en_US"}}